9th Grade U.S. History I
Midterm Study Guide, 2015
About the exam
This exam is worth 20% of your grade. You will have 2 hours to complete the exam.
The exam features two sections:
Section 1, An Overview of the Founding Era, is worth 60% of the exam. It will ask multiple choice, true or false, matching, and short answer questions, focusing on important people, chronology of events, and the causes and consequences of:
Scoring and benchmarks:
Your midterm grade will be determined by scoring to the benchmarks, as you have seen throughout the year so far. These benchmarks usually appeared in our goals and were used for grading your performance throughout the semester. Find the benchmarks below:
Sample Questions
What was one major social reason for the British colonization of North America?
Which of the following sentences best describe the New Colonies mercantilist relationship with Britain.
During the French & Indian War, describe the Britain and the colonists’ response to the following French & Indian actions in 1-2 sentences. Remember to describe the response.
French & Indian Action
Colonist/British Response
The French claim the rich Ohio River Valley by building Fort Duquesne.
Colonists call on the British to defend the area, which is rich with resources. A Virginian militia, including George Washington, also goes to fight.
In 1754, General George Washington and a small militia attack a group of French soldiers at Fort Necessity.
French soldiers and their Native American allies ambush British General Braddock as he tries to attack Fort Duquesne.
French and Native Americans win battles consistently during 1755 and 1756.
French Commander Marquies de Montcalm and his troops submit defeat to British General James Wolf after being ambushed in Quebec.
The French sign the Treaty of Paris.
In one well-written paragraph, describe how women contributed to the American rebellion.
The Boston Massacre was an example of successful:
True of False: The Boston Massacre was the event that sparked the American Revolution.
In which way was the U.S. Constitutional Convention revolutionary?
1.
2.
3.
Identify 3 differences:
1.
2.
3.
How does federalism ensure the government represents the common people?
Study Guide for U.S. History I Midterm, 2015
Part II: Apply US History to Solve Modern Problems
Directions: Closely read the following article. Then, answer the open-ended question below.
Aung San Suu Kyi (a female politician and Nobel Peace Prize winner), whose party won a massive victory in Myanmar's first democratic elections last month, has met Mr. President Thein Sein to discuss the handover.
She also met army chief Min Aung Hlaing in the capital Nay Pyi Taw.
Both men have pledged to assist in a smooth transfer of power putting an end to decades of military-backed rule. Myanmar suffered under tyrannical dictatorship for 60 years.
However, Ms Suu Kyi is constitutionally barred from becoming president and the army retains a quarter of seats in the upper and lower houses of parliament.
The constitution of Myanmar bars anyone whose children are foreign nationals from becoming president - Ms Suu Kyi's sons have British passports. However, she has repeatedly said that she will work closely with the person she nominates for the role.
The meetings each took about 45 minutes.
A spokesman for ex-President Thein Sein said his discussion with Ms Suu Kyi focused on how to achieve a peaceful transition of power.
Ye Htut told the BBC's Jonah Fisher that she did not broach the subject of changing the constitution to allow her to become president, nor was there any discussion around who the next president might be.
Her party, the National League for Democracy (NLD), won about 80% of the seats up for election in the 8 November poll.
Despite hundreds of thousands of people, such as the stateless Muslim Rohingya minority, being denied voting rights, the elections were the most democratic in Myanmar in 25 years.
Ms Suu Kyi called on the president, parliament Speaker and army chief to meet her for talks after the elections - but full details of the talks are not expected to be released for some time.
The current parliamentary session ends in January. After that the new NLD-dominated parliament session, where they will choose a new Speaker before selecting two vice-presidents and a president, will begin.
The NLD secured the necessary two-thirds of the seats to control both houses of parliament, enabling it to choose the next president. But the army's quota of a quarter of the seats in both the upper and lower houses allows it to veto constitutional change.
It also controls key security ministries.
The army ruled Myanmar from 1962 until 2011, when a military-backed civilian government came into power led by Thein Sein and ushered in a series of reforms.
Directions: How can Myanmar become a more stable country? Using your knowledge of the Founding Era of U.S. history, propose solutions to 3 problems (1 social, 1 economic, and 1 political). Identify the problem in the topic sentence of each paragraph. Therefore, this should be a 3-paragraph proposal. I will be grading for:
Standard Addressed: 1.4: Explain major themes in the early national history of the United States.
Midterm Study Guide, 2015
About the exam
This exam is worth 20% of your grade. You will have 2 hours to complete the exam.
The exam features two sections:
Section 1, An Overview of the Founding Era, is worth 60% of the exam. It will ask multiple choice, true or false, matching, and short answer questions, focusing on important people, chronology of events, and the causes and consequences of:
- colonial expansion
- mercantilism
- French & Indian War
- American rebellion
- American Revolution
- independence
- the Constitution
- creation and workings of the U.S. government
Scoring and benchmarks:
Your midterm grade will be determined by scoring to the benchmarks, as you have seen throughout the year so far. These benchmarks usually appeared in our goals and were used for grading your performance throughout the semester. Find the benchmarks below:
- Identify and explain the conditions, causes, consequences, and significance of the French and Indian War (1754–1763), and the resistance and rebellion against British imperial rule by the 13 colonies in North America (1761–1775).
- Identify fundamental ideas in the Declaration of Independence (1776) and analyze the causes and effects of the Revolutionary War (1775–1783), including enactment of the Articles of Confederation and the Treaty of Paris.
- Identify and explain key events leading to the creation of a strong union among the 13 original states and in the establishment of the United States as a federal republic. Explain major ideas about government, individual rights, and the general welfare embedded in key documents from the Founding Era.
- Example: the enactment of state constitutions, the Constitutional Convention, ratifying conventions of the American state, debate by Federalists versus Anti-Federalists about approval or disapproval of the 1787 Constitution (1787–1788)
- Example: Declaration of Independence, U.S. Constitution (1787), and the Bill of Rights (1791)
- Explain major themes in the early national history of the United States.
- Example: Federalism; states’ rights; political and economic difficulties encountered by Americans and Native American Indians such as slavery
Sample Questions
What was one major social reason for the British colonization of North America?
- Religious persecution
- Racism
- War
- Famine
Which of the following sentences best describe the New Colonies mercantilist relationship with Britain.
- Mercantilism benefited the colonies because the colonies received British goods, such as gold, silver, food stuffs, and raw material.
- Mercantilism benefited Britain by importing goods from the colonies, such as gold, silver, food stuffs, and raw material.
- Mercantilism benefited both the colonies and Britain by sharing all wealth equally.
- Mercantilism benefited both the colonies and Britain by buying and selling all goods at a low price so that everyone could afford what they wanted.
During the French & Indian War, describe the Britain and the colonists’ response to the following French & Indian actions in 1-2 sentences. Remember to describe the response.
French & Indian Action
Colonist/British Response
The French claim the rich Ohio River Valley by building Fort Duquesne.
Colonists call on the British to defend the area, which is rich with resources. A Virginian militia, including George Washington, also goes to fight.
In 1754, General George Washington and a small militia attack a group of French soldiers at Fort Necessity.
French soldiers and their Native American allies ambush British General Braddock as he tries to attack Fort Duquesne.
French and Native Americans win battles consistently during 1755 and 1756.
French Commander Marquies de Montcalm and his troops submit defeat to British General James Wolf after being ambushed in Quebec.
The French sign the Treaty of Paris.
In one well-written paragraph, describe how women contributed to the American rebellion.
The Boston Massacre was an example of successful:
- propaganda
- military strategy
- terrorism
- invasion
True of False: The Boston Massacre was the event that sparked the American Revolution.
In which way was the U.S. Constitutional Convention revolutionary?
- It was the first time in history when women participated in the creation of a new government.
- It was the first time in history when a group had rebelled and created a new government.
- It was the first time in history when a government had been established based on discussion and compromise.
- It was the first time in history when people from all classes had participated in the creation of a new government.
1.
2.
3.
Identify 3 differences:
1.
2.
3.
How does federalism ensure the government represents the common people?
- checks and balances
- federal laws
- police forces
- free education
Study Guide for U.S. History I Midterm, 2015
Part II: Apply US History to Solve Modern Problems
Directions: Closely read the following article. Then, answer the open-ended question below.
Aung San Suu Kyi (a female politician and Nobel Peace Prize winner), whose party won a massive victory in Myanmar's first democratic elections last month, has met Mr. President Thein Sein to discuss the handover.
She also met army chief Min Aung Hlaing in the capital Nay Pyi Taw.
Both men have pledged to assist in a smooth transfer of power putting an end to decades of military-backed rule. Myanmar suffered under tyrannical dictatorship for 60 years.
However, Ms Suu Kyi is constitutionally barred from becoming president and the army retains a quarter of seats in the upper and lower houses of parliament.
The constitution of Myanmar bars anyone whose children are foreign nationals from becoming president - Ms Suu Kyi's sons have British passports. However, she has repeatedly said that she will work closely with the person she nominates for the role.
The meetings each took about 45 minutes.
A spokesman for ex-President Thein Sein said his discussion with Ms Suu Kyi focused on how to achieve a peaceful transition of power.
Ye Htut told the BBC's Jonah Fisher that she did not broach the subject of changing the constitution to allow her to become president, nor was there any discussion around who the next president might be.
Her party, the National League for Democracy (NLD), won about 80% of the seats up for election in the 8 November poll.
Despite hundreds of thousands of people, such as the stateless Muslim Rohingya minority, being denied voting rights, the elections were the most democratic in Myanmar in 25 years.
Ms Suu Kyi called on the president, parliament Speaker and army chief to meet her for talks after the elections - but full details of the talks are not expected to be released for some time.
The current parliamentary session ends in January. After that the new NLD-dominated parliament session, where they will choose a new Speaker before selecting two vice-presidents and a president, will begin.
The NLD secured the necessary two-thirds of the seats to control both houses of parliament, enabling it to choose the next president. But the army's quota of a quarter of the seats in both the upper and lower houses allows it to veto constitutional change.
It also controls key security ministries.
The army ruled Myanmar from 1962 until 2011, when a military-backed civilian government came into power led by Thein Sein and ushered in a series of reforms.
Directions: How can Myanmar become a more stable country? Using your knowledge of the Founding Era of U.S. history, propose solutions to 3 problems (1 social, 1 economic, and 1 political). Identify the problem in the topic sentence of each paragraph. Therefore, this should be a 3-paragraph proposal. I will be grading for:
- connection to the Founding Era of U.S. history (25%)
- clear explanations of your solutions and connections, including expanding on definitions of key historical terms (25%)
- accuracy of facts and application (25%)
- organization (15%)
- grammar (10%)
Standard Addressed: 1.4: Explain major themes in the early national history of the United States.